Posted by nucase on March 18, 2004, at 17:58:21
A month ago I went to see a Psychiatrist to have a medication evaluation. Prior to the visit I had taken Paxil 50mg for 2 years.
The Doc told me to stop the paxil overnight and to start Effexor XR and Amitriptyline. It has been a month that I feel I am going insane. I have had terrible mood shifts, uncontrollable moods (e.g. sobbing), extremly suicidal urges, erratic behavior, panic attacks, irritability etc. These were not part of my behavior prior to taking the medication.
Today I did some research and found that virtually everybody (that is the World Health Organization, The FDA, many others docs and reluctantly even paxil manufacturers) agrees that paxil should be weaned off gradually over time. In fact there were several (winning) lawsuits against the manufacturer for not having initially stressed the paxil withdrawal symptoms. The law suit list all the side effects I have had (and a score more). I found that some medical journal have documented these as well.
I am FURIOUS! I have been going through hell for the last month. I went to the ER and could have easily done serious damage to myself (whether by killing myself, leaving my partner or loosing a job). What I am furious about of course is not that paxil is addictive but rather that there was plenty of abundant information out there (including something as simple as the paxil's instructions) that paxil should not be stopped cold turkey at once.
I think my psychiatrist was irresponsible, misinformed and did not bother to find out when I told him how I felt.I just would like an external opinion. Does this make sense? Am I indeed justified in feeling this way?
Moral of the story for you folks: whatever the credentials of the person who prescribed your meds, do your homework. Don't assumed that because your doctor is qualified and charges your insurance $$$ that he'll even bother to spent five minute researching on your case! Yes, it's outrageous and inexcusable but that's the way it is.
poster:nucase
thread:325796
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/subs/20040130/msgs/325796.html